About

The Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network (ASPREN) is a network of sentinel general practitioners and nurse practitioners who report de-identified information on Influenza like illness and other conditions seen in general practice. Initially developed by the RACGP in 1991, ASPREN is currently funded by the Commonwealth's Department of Health and directed through the Discipline of General Practice at The University of Adelaide. ASPREN data is used for infectious disease surveillance by State and Commonwealth Departments of Health and general practice research, including providing annual vaccine effectiveness estimates to the Global Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Movement and data to the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza. It is a key part of pandemic preparedness for Australia

ASPREN reporters electronically submit de-identified patient data on influenza like illness (ILI) on an ongoing basis and may also choose to collect information on other conditions. Participating GPs are eligible for RACGP or ACRRM CPD points by participating in syndromic data collection and virological surveillance. Both individuals and practices are welcome to be part of ASPREN.

We gratefully thank our reporters for being part of a network of Australian and International public health surveillance professionals.

Professor Nigel Stocks Director, ASPREN Head, Discipline of General Practice School of Population Health and Clinical Practice The University of Adelaide